Custom 1978 Muhammad Ali Commissioned "Three Time World Champion" Ring

First there was Liston, a bruising underworld thug expected to detach the young Cassius Clay's head from his shoulders. Then there was Foreman, expected to do much the same at the famed "Rumble in the Jungle." And, finally, there was Leon Spinks, who claimed a 15-round decision in February 1978 to take the belt, and then surrendered it again in the August rematch to complete Ali's unprecedented trifecta.

Commissioned by Ali and designed by Jostens, this ring was presented to one of his entourage members to mark his third trip to the mountain top. This scarce ring features a regal design and is dominated by a crown set within a red stone on the face along with three faux diamonds representing each of Heavyweight Championships attained by boxing's greatest name. "M. Ali, World Champion Three Times" dances the perimeter of the face. Left shank, in Ali's celebrated hyperbole, announces "The Greatest Heavyweight World Champion." Right shank announces "Muhammad Ali, S. Liston-G. Foreman-L. Spinks, '64, '74, '78." Interior band is stamped "10k Jostens." The ring size is a 13. Comes in elegant polished red metal presentation box, 4 inches square and 3 inches high, with white satin interior and the ring resting on a small white pillow.

Muhammad Ali's own personal ring fetched nearly 60k at auction in 2011. This is a highly desirable and rarely seen ring for the serious Ali collector.